Monster Energy Nascar Cup Series Playoffs Round Of 12 Begins 10/8

NBC Sports Group surrounds this weekend's NASCAR Cup Series and XFINITY Series Playoffs, with more than 20 hours of trackside coverage from Charlotte Motor Speedway, in Concord, N.C. Race coverage from the "Queen City" begins Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN, with the pivotal XFINITY Series Playoffs Round of 12 elimination race, and culminates Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, with the first race of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 12.

In addition to live television coverage on NBCSN, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app - NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs - will provide comprehensive streaming coverage of this weekend's NASCAR action.

NBC Sports Group kicks off its Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series coverage from Charlotte Motor Speedway this Friday at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN with first practice, followed by qualifying at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Saturday's coverage begins at 11 a.m. ET on NBCSN with second practice, followed by a special 30-minute edition of NASCAR AMERICA at 1 p.m. ET. Final practice wraps up the day at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Sunday's race day coverage begins with NASCAR AMERICA at noon ET on NBCSN, and continues with Countdown to Green at 1 p.m. ET on NBC. Driver of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, will join Countdown to Green live on-set to discuss his dominating run last round and what tracks in the Round of 12 offer the No. 18 team the best chances to bring home the checkered flag. Pre-race coverage also includes a special preview of Charlotte Motor Speedway, as Erik Jones takes the wheel of the NBC Sports Toyota Camry on-track car.

In addition, Olympian Ato Boldon (@atoboldon) returns to NBC Sports Group's live race coverage this weekend, after making his NASCAR on NBC debut as a features reporter earlier this season. Throughout the weekend, Boldon will spend time embedded with Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 20 team. The four-time Olympic medalist and NASCAR on NBC reporter will also experience and report on the No. 20 crew's training and fitness regimen.

NASCAR Cup Series racing begins at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, and is followed by a live on-site post-race show at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

XFINITY SERIES COVERAGE FROM CHARLOTTE - SATURDAY AT 3 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

NBCSN's XFINITY Series coverage from Charlotte begins Friday, with practice at 3 p.m. ET and 6 p.m. ET. Race day coverage on Saturday begins with XFINITY Series qualifying at noon ET on NBCSN. Pre-race Countdown to Green coverage starts at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, and is followed by live race coverage at 3 p.m. ET.

Going into Saturday's XFINITY Series Playoffs elimination race, Justin Allgaier leads the field with 2,107 points, followed by William Byron (+51 points above the cut line), Elliott Sadler (+41), Cole Custer (+40), Daniel Hemric (+37), Brennan Poole (+29), Matt Tifft (+14) and Ryan Reed (+2). Veteran driver Brendan Gaughan is currently on the cusp, just 2 points below the cut line for the final spot in the Round of 8.

Today at 5 p.m. ET, David Ragan and Landon Cassill will join NASCAR AMERICA host Marty Snider, as well as analysts Kyle Petty and Jeff Burton, live from the Hall of Honor at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, in Charlotte, N.C.

The Front Row Motorsports teammates will discuss their combined 20-years in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, changes and transitions they have witnessed, and expectations as the sports' retiring veterans pass the baton on to upcoming young guns.

As part of NBCSN's comprehensive coverage of the 2017 NASCAR season, NASCAR AMERICA will present a live show each week from the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Each live episode will include an in-depth interview with an active driver, and highlight their journey to professional racing.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s successor, and driver of Hendrick Motorsports' No. 88 Chevrolet in 2018, Alex Bowman joins Nate Ryan (@nateryan) on this week's NASCAR on NBC podcast. Bowman shares his excitement as he looks to take the next step in his career and fill the shoes of his childhood idol. Ryan also hosts a bonus episode with Scott McLaughlin, driver of Team Penske's No. 17 Ford Falcon in the Australian Supercars Championship Series. The NASCAR on NBC podcast is available on NASCAR Talk, Apple Podcasts, AudioBoom, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher and podcasting apps.